And here we go again! Almost done finalizing the list. It took a lot of procrastination but I think I got it. 25 albums this time, gonna be starting at some point tomorrow.

To start things off, I'll tell you what to expect:

- This covers all kinds of black metal. Black/Death, Black/Folk, etc.
- It becomes very obvious what my favorite kind of black metal is.
- I'm aware that I have a LOT more albums to check out. I usually listen to black metal from time to time but I've been listening to it a lot recently so this is more or less the best time to make this.

So yeah, we'll get things rolling as soon as possible!

GarageMetal468

07-12-2012, 09:39 AM

#25

Bethlehem - Dark Metal

http://www.mediaboom.org/uploads/posts/2012-05/1336043016_1.jpg

Bethlehem are a very interesting band. They usually refer to themselves as "suicidal dark metal" which is pretty much an accurate description. They take black metal, add a depressive and dark feel to it and incorporate doom elements to their music to make their own style. Dark Metal is by far my favorite from them. It's almost a mesmerizing album.

One of the many bands in general I didn't check out til recently, and damn, I have been missing out! These guys create a very creepy atmosphere with their music and have awesome riffs to go with it. This album is the best example of that. The lyrics are also very interesting and well written, a lot of them having to do with nature which is very fitting for the album. I'm bummed I missed them last year when they came to Chicago, I heard it was a fantastic show.

Highlights:
Vastness and Sorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLfLBbSg_Cc)
I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTnfzWehaGg)

One of the many bands in general I didn't check out til recently, and damn, I have been missing out! These guys create a very creepy atmosphere with their music and have awesome riffs to go with it. This album is the best example of that. The lyrics are also very interesting and well written, a lot of them having to do with nature which is very fitting for the album. I'm bummed I missed them last year when they came to Chicago, I heard it was a fantastic show.

Highlights:
Vastness and Sorrow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLfLBbSg_Cc)
I Will Lay Down My Bones Among the Rocks and Roots (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTnfzWehaGg)

Fantastic album! I personally prefer Black Cascade, but this one is close. Hell, all their albums are close for me! I'm also going to be following this thread closely, so keep it up man! :horns:

GarageMetal468

07-12-2012, 11:43 PM

Fantastic album! I personally prefer Black Cascade, but this one is close. Hell, all their albums are close for me! I'm also going to be following this thread closely, so keep it up man! :horns:

Thanks! I'm gonna be gone at CIM all weekend so I'll post 2 more in the meantime.

Rocco44

07-13-2012, 12:59 AM

Fantastic album! I personally prefer Black Cascade, but this one is close. Hell, all their albums are close for me! I'm also going to be following this thread closely, so keep it up man! :horns:

The first Norwegian black metal album of the list! This album is pretty damn remarkable. Awesome riffs throughout the album as well as the addition of synths at some parts to give it a unique feel. The intro to this album is eerie as all hell but fits well with the album. Definitely one of the more underrated Norwegian black metal bands and albums out there. I highly recommend this to anyone who hasn't heard it.

It's safe to say that you can't go wrong with any of Inquisition's albums, but this one has stuck out the most to me out of all the listens. The production on here is a lot more cleaner than the previous albums, and their style on here sticks out the most as well. From pounding blast beats to slow and crushing riffs, Inquisition really shows their consistency on the latest album of theirs. And for two people, this is some fucking awesome stuff.

Swedish melodic black/death metal... There were a lot of those kinds of bands, but Far Away from the Sun is unique on it's own. Emphasizing on not only the riffs and melodies, but the chaos of the music they are producing, this album is out of this world. I've seen it highly regarded as one of the best of the genre and I couldn't agree more. Definitely worth a listen or ten.

It's safe to say that you can't go wrong with any of Inquisition's albums, but this one has stuck out the most to me out of all the listens. The production on here is a lot more cleaner than the previous albums, and their style on here sticks out the most as well. From pounding blast beats to slow and crushing riffs, Inquisition really shows their consistency on the latest album of theirs. And for two people, this is some fucking awesome stuff.

I'll go ahead and say that Summoning isn't going to be on here. I enjoy them, but to me it felt like something was missing from them, and whatever was missing, Falkenbach managed to have in his music. Falkenbach is a one man band from Germany that makes epic black metal with viking themes to it. And when I say epic, I mean EPIC AS ALL FUCKING HELL. The atmosphere the music creates fits well with the album art, it feels like a journey of its own. A journey where you'll be banging your head throughout, because some of the riffs here are killer as well. This album is fucking awesome.

Another classic Swedish melodic black metal album. Unlike it's companions of the same genre, Mörk Gryning hardly use any death metal influence and go for a straight black metal approach. Almost, if not all the riffs on here are composed of tremolo picking and are still memorable and catchy. The use of choir backgrounds and synths come up on here often as well. This is an underrated gem of Swedish black metal and well worth a listen.

Enslaved are another band who's discography is massive yet consistent from beginning to end. It was hard as hell for me to pick a favorite from them but I had to go with this one. Totally different from the rest of their discography but not in any bad way whatsoever. There are only 5 tracks on here, 4 of them being over 10 minutes long. However, the songs never lose interest. There are synths on here that do add to the music and even remind me of Emperor at times. The album also closes with a fucking awesome instrumental track, Norvegr. Fuck, that song alone could be the reason why this is my favorite Enslaved album.

Of all the black metal Darkthrone, A Blaze In the Northern Sky is definitely my favorite of them (Soulside Journey being my absolute favorite Darkthrone album). Compared to the other albums, the production on here is far better suited for this kind of black metal. The guitar stands out the most with some of the best Darkthrone riffs on here. Just an all around awesome album from them.

Highlights:
In the Shadow of the Horns (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RGUREkz8TA)
Where Cold Winds Blow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjzkVY_YYTI)
A Blaze In the Northern Sky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2zVoG3NiE)

Of all the black metal Darkthrone, A Blaze In the Northern Sky is definitely my favorite of them (Soulside Journey being my absolute favorite Darkthrone album). Compared to the other albums, the production on here is far better suited for this kind of black metal. The guitar stands out the most with some of the best Darkthrone riffs on here. Just an all around awesome album from them.

Highlights:
In the Shadow of the Horns (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RGUREkz8TA)
Where Cold Winds Blow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjzkVY_YYTI)
A Blaze In the Northern Sky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2zVoG3NiE)

YES!:rocker::drool:

GarageMetal468

07-24-2012, 09:50 AM

#16

Burzum - Filosofem

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/images/covers/burzum-filosofem.jpg

One of the most haunting albums I have ever heard. The guitar work and background keys help make this album what it is. Filosofem definitely makes you feel like you're in a creepy place throughout the album. And that 25 minute ambient track... awesome. Very fitting for the album.

Don't know if you read my review a while back, but I randomly checked out Inquisition without having heard them before going to this tiny basement show. They fucking blew me away.

#16

Burzum - Filosofem

http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/images/covers/burzum-filosofem.jpg

I hear all the time that this is the best black metal album of all time, but I really can't get into it. Or Burzum as a whole. Burzum is the band I WANT to love, but in reality I can't get into the music really. But I like the idea of loving Burzum. If that makes any sense. :lol: Maybe I'll try again.

GarageMetal468

08-10-2012, 08:28 AM

DUDE. I hadn't even heard of this band before, so I checked 'em out. First song I randomly listen to, by sheer luck, has a goddamn BREAKDOWN in it. Oh my god. Yes. Blackmoshcore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iiNuZmvjbQ

0:53 :lovedup:

:lol: I assure you, they're all not like that!

I should probably get back to this...

llama lom

08-10-2012, 01:07 PM

:lol: I assure you, they're all not like that!

I should probably get back to this...

Please do! I'm really looking forward to the rest of the list!

GarageMetal468

08-21-2012, 10:01 AM

#15

Primordial - To the Nameless Dead

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/7/1/1/171191.jpg

Black metal with huge Celtic influences, definitely my favorite album from them. It has a very epic feel throughout the album, every song is a story of its own. Speaking of which, the lyrics are awesome and are greatly executed, that singer has one hell of a voice!

Now this is a great album. The best way to put it is that the music goes great with the album artwork. It gives it a night time feel when the music is playing, especially with the first two tracks. The harsh vocals on this album are incredible and used at the right times, especially on Percées De Lumière. A very atmospheric and just all around awesome album.

Highlights:
Écailles De Lune Pt. 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk_gIOSHviA)
Percées de Lumiére (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gGv0uQtn74) - This song is still one of the best songs I have ever seen live.
Solar Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46W_462hdPo)

GarageMetal468

09-11-2012, 10:03 AM

#13

Immortal - At the Heart of Winter

http://k19.kn3.net/B3E8240CF.jpg

This album to me is different from all the other Immortal albums. Starting here, they cut down the songs to a mere 6 on the album but each song is 6 to 8 minutes long. With these longer songs, they added a fuck ton of more riffs which is what makes this album awesome. The guitars in general, including riffs, clean parts and solos are amazing on here. This could be the best Immortal release, at least it is to me, but it all comes down to a matter of preference there. But it's no doubt that this is one of the best they've put out.

Highlights:
Withstand the Fall of Time (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Maw0V6dSLE)
Solarfall (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meIh4oZ-hNs)
Where Light and Dark Don't Differ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqwF2wtKmAc)

It was hard for me to pick a favorite Agalloch album, all of them are great in their own way. The Mantle has my favorite atmosphere, Ashes Against the Grain has some of the coolest songs, and Marrow of the Spirit has some of the best songwriting. But to me, Pale Folklore is a great combination of all of those characteristics. As an added bonus, the album has some of my favorite guitar leads and riffs. She Painted Fire Across the Skyline Pt. 1 and Dead Winter Days are perfect examples. Pale Folklore is especially good for being a debut and no doubt one of the best Agalloch albums.

Saw there were 1,666 views on this thread and decided to post the next one!

#11

Absu - Tara

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/4/3/143.jpg

This album is crazy. Some of the most intense drumming in metal can be found on this album alone by good ol Proscriptor McGovern. I think this album is a concept album based on some ridiculous ass mythology Absu came up with while high out of their mind, or something along those lines. Either way this album is awesome, filled with amazing drumming and great riffs.

You want to know what it's going to sound like when the apocalypse happens? Here it is! This album is absolutely fucking nuts, and that's an understatement. For 2 guys, they know how to make crazy music. You'd think that "industrial black metal" and grindcore together would be weird... Turns out it's absolutely chaotic! The vocals and guitars are easily the highlights of the album. The guitar tone is undeniably killer, especially with the tremolo riffs. And Dave Hunt's vocals are some of his best on here, both harsh and clean. If you want a chaotic album to listen to, listen to this!

Highlights:
In the Constellation of the Black Widow (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUcFAA1dKPY)
More of Fire Than Blood (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozZ2Z6RGYOs)
So Be It (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhR5c2w7zk0) - Replace the vocals with death metal vocals, this could easily pass for a Dismember song!